by Efrain Morales Rivera
Date: 01/21/10, 05:24ut, 01/27/10, 03:37ut
Location: Aguadilla, Puerto Rico
Equipment: LX200ACF 12 in. OTA, CGE mount, DMK21AF04 Ccd, TeleVue 3x barlows, Astronomik LRGB filter set.
On the right image it was taken days before close approah with a diam. of 14.0, On the second image it was taken on its close approach to Earth on the 27th with a max. diam. of 14.1.
Many high altiude clouds visible on both images (orographic) and especially on the limbs, Very noticeble is Olympus mon the largest volcano in our solar system with a elevation of over 93k ft.!. The North Polar Hood is decreasing in size as the summer soltice is approaching.